Workshop Standabout

My favorite metal supplier has one employee out, so smaller orders like mine are secondary in the queue, and it's now going on two weeks waiting for metal. Kinda puts a crimp in my 'just in time' approach to procurement. I'd switch to another supplier, but they sell in 20 foot lengths, or charge a fee per cut for a shorter piece. I can't manage -much less- transport 20' pieces, and most of my items are small 12-36 inches and numerous. Not worth it yet.

I need the metal for the Mikado boiler to mount the smokebox, and for the metal bands which will hold the jacketing to the boiler shell. Oh-and the rear boiler mount.

My other metal order is for the Freight Elevator. That's not as time critical since I am waiting on the bearings to arrive and for me to flame cut some pieces out of an old piece of plate. If I can get my cutting torch to run correctly, get some daylight and good weather I can take care of this item. I could probably stand the cold weather, but I can't have much of a breeze since I'm working outside.


For the elevator, I've got most of the nuts and bolts in, and the four 1-1/8 5 threads-per-inch screws have arrived. We can start some machine work on those. On second thought, better not until the bearings arrive so we can size the shafts correctly.

That about brings me to where I started: Waiting. Or a 'Standabout', a term I learned while volunteering with the 1522 big train group. If we were waiting for some supply item, part or the crew chief to tell us what's next, we'd all be "standing about", doing nothing.

A video blast from the past - the Frisco 1522 Texas trip

Some nostalgia from 2001 - a little video clip of my big "Texas Trip" with the historic Frisco 1522 Steam Locomotive. I am so grateful to have been able to participate in this mainline steam trip. For me it truly was an experience of a lifetime.

A crew member's perspective of the BNSF Employee Appreciation Special June 21, 2001 as pulled by the Frisco 1522 Steam Locomotive. This was a 28 day, 3,800 mile trip from St. Louis, MO to Houston, TX and back.



This was also my first big attempt at digital story production, incorporating analog-to-digital converted monaural sound recording (from a micro-cassette recorder), digitized Kodak Advantix pictures, and video and audio composition software. I had to burn a copy of the 65mb video file to CD, take it to friend Greg E.'s house who had a computer with video output so I could make a playable copy on VHS videocassette tape to show people!

The Hangover 150

Ransomville, NY. Friday, January 1, 2010. Once again Myself, Dad, my Brother and his Son attended the Hangover 150 race new Years Day!


A total of one hundred and seventy two cars entered the 10th annual Hangover 150 Enduro at Ransomville Speedway. The stands were again packed in time for the 12:00 noon start. The crowd was really into it, enjoying all the racing action amidst light snow showers and temperatures in the mid twenties. There were three 50 lap races for the 4 Cylinders, 6 Cylinders, and 8 Cylinders cars.


This year turns 1 and 2 were very slippery causing pile-ups and logjams during the six and eight cylinder races. They had to red flag (stop) the races to open things up again which made for a long day on cold bleacher seats with cold toes!

There was only one car fire this year on the track (and one other outside), but still plenty of crazy driving in all kinds of vehicles, some which barely ran to a couple in the 8-cylinder class which not only did not have rust but actually looked polished!

See full report and check out the pictures (especially page 1) from the official Ramsonville Speedway site.

Over the Highways and thru the Snow, to Grandmothers House we go

Today I visited my Grandmother in the very small village of Castile, NY
Mom and Dad were with me and we went out to the "Hawley Lumber Yard" restaurant in the nearby town of Perry. Dad's first choice, "The Hole in the Wall" restaurant was closed today. We had a leisurely lunch and over two excellent deserts (shared by everyone at the table) of coconut creme pie and a chocolate fudge pie topped with coconut and ice cream talked with Grandma about our family history, past relatives and other genealogy topics which Dad, Mom and I did not know about.





After lunch Dad played with the dogs Cody and Toby back at the house. Aunt Liz was hosting a bridge tournament out of town.






A cold front had moved through the area last night, bringing winds, snow and a high of 9 degrees today! The winds bring a local weather behavior called "lake effect snow". Unlike a larger snow storm which affects a broad area, lake effect is long bands of snow

mixed between areas of no snow at all. To understand what I am talking about, do this: grab a state map, put your hand over it with your fingers stretched out. Whatever your fingers cover, that would be getting snow. In between your fingers, sunshine. Like these pictures taken 15 minutes apart. Sunshine in the first, snow in the second. And we drove out of the snow five minutes later.

On our way home I took the scenic route and took the road which follows Oatka Creek. The name comes from the original Seneca Indian name for the creek, O-at-ka (translated: Queen of Water).

It has a three mile section of class II-III rapids on it, and is known for its excellent brown trout fishery.

Dad and I had canoed it several times when I was in Boy Scouts and I had fond memories of the creek. He also remembered an early spring canoe trip when there was still ice on the water and we dumped the canoe, soaking us both with cold, cold water.

Christmas with the Cousins

The Christmas party on Mom's side of the family:











back: Makenzie, Mike, Megan, Paul, AJ, Peter, Penny, Donny, Joel, Karen, Steve, Ann, Jim, Michelle
Julie, Kim, Mike, Jack, Nancy, Erin, Josh, Jake, Ben, Zack, Danielle, Denis










Kim and daughter Megan











Penny & Don, Steve, Peter










Jack and Megan pose for Megan's new camera











Julie & Daughter Makenzie with Aunt Ann, Julie's Mom











Some of the cousins - Zack, Jake, Ben, Josh look at the new DS

The Peppermint Pig Tradition

Ben and Jake break the peppermint pig Christmas Eve 2009, continuing the tradition. The pig is made of hard peppermint, which tastes almost like a candy cane. Traditionally, after Christmas dinner the head of the household places the pig in a velveteen pouch and smashes it with a metal mallet. It is then passed around the table, so everyone gets a turn. Typically, each person recalls something good that happened over the last year. The first Peppermint Pigs™ were and still are only made in Saratoga County, NY, in the early 1880's. This is near where sister's family now lives, so they picked up the tradition.

Jake flies his Helicopter

Jake flies his new toy helicopter Christmas day